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David, your bluebirds were busy while you were away. Nice to see eggs upon your return. So sorry about the passing of your brother-in-law.
Judy-Michigan
Carol, I like your idea of a dummy box for wrens. How far is it away from the bluebird boxes in use? You are so right about them filling boxes with sticks all day long. We have a lot of them in our neighborhood, I can hear them from all directions. They are coming into areas not typical for them. We have mowed lawns without a lot of brushy areas. I wish they would leave…..I dread hearing their call‼️ Thanks for the idea.
Judy-Michigan
It looks like egg #4 will not hatch. Gin, the box in use is a slot box, so the wren guard is about 2 1/2 inches front and sides. Almost like a hooded porch cover. I’m beginning to think HOWR attacks depend on where they are at in their nesting cycle. This pair of blues used the other round hole box on their 1st nesting. Mama did not accept the guard, so her first nesting was successful without a wren guard. I also wonder…..without the guard they can see around their box before leaving….with it in place they can not. Last season I had a wren destroy a nest with the guard in place. Any of you bluebirders choose not to use a guard?
Judy-Michigan
Yep, the occupied box has a sparrow spooker on it. It’s working great ….the HOSP around my place have never bothered a box while one is in place. It’s a great invention, a must have for bluebird helpers.
Judy-Michigan
Carol…I think your 3rd nest had the 1st egg laid one day before mine. My 2nd nest has a total of 4 eggs. How many eggs did mama blue lay in the new enlarged box? Our nesters will be on the same time frames. Today was mega hot, but tomorrow is a cool down. Yay‼️
Judy-Michigan
That’s great news Rich, congratulations‼️ I hope you get a second nesting too. Nothing better than filling the neighborhood with bluebirds.
Judy-Michigan
I agree….I love watching them sit on the shepherds hooks waiting for bugs, watching the nest or playing in the birdbaths. I hope we’ll have them around until fall. They do not stay in my area all winter. September 1st was the last I saw them (last season), returned the 3rd week in April. Super exciting when they return!
Judy-Michigan
Thanks Carol……I hope your new box works like a charm! It’s been crazy hot here too. Sounds like our nesters could be at the same stage. I thought I would have an egg today, but nothing as of 1:00pm. I was out doing some gardening and had to come in….thought I was going to melt. Good luck, let us know when that 1st egg shows up.
Judy-Michigan
Renee…..I got a chuckle about the men having to mow at the wrong times. Same here. I have been waiting 3 weeks for this pair of BLuebirds to start a second nest. Today I see them carrying nesting material into the box, working hard and fast. You guessed it….TIME to MOW‼️ Grrr, ask if he could wait until evening. He says “I’ll start in the backyard”….well now he is in the front. Yup spooked them. I think in his mind if he stays away by a 4’ radius…all is well. Hopefully they will return soon.
How is your birding going?
Judy-Michigan
Wowza Carol…..that’s is a lot of rain in two days‼️ I think I remember your first nesting this season left in a horrible wind/rain storm and you worried about their safety. That’s some bad timing for it to happen to the second set of fledglings too. Sad the #5 baby didn’t make it. Is it too hot in MO to get a 3rd nesting?
I sure hope they show up at your worm bowl soon.
Judy-Michigan
Tammy that is awful news. I know you do HOSP control, just wondering if this happen with sparrow spookers on the boxes? The HOSP around my area a terrified of the spookers. Could it have been a wren? Whatever it was…..still so sad and heartbreaking. My thoughts are with you.
Judy-Michigan
Gin, My boxes are mounted the same way. So are you saying just sit the box on top of the pole so it can turn freely…..do not use the tighten down screw? That has never crossed my mind. We just had a big thunder/rain storm roll through.
Second nesting has 4 eggs, her first nesting was 2 eggs. All is well. So, cute one of the fledglings likes to sit on the shepherd’s with papa keeping an eye on things.
My other box of babies fledged on June 18th. Tuesday will be 3 weeks, have any of you had a pair wait this long to start a second nesting? I do see them looking in the boxes, but no nest building. I think the clock is ticking towards the cut off time.
Thank you,
Judy-MichiganGin, Thank you for your response. I know your weather in Atlanta can be super hot, so it’s good to know you have been successful with out heat protection. This bb box is in an open area where it is full sun all day. The vents are at the 4 bottom corners, V wedges on both sides at the top and the front has a slot opening. With the wren guard on it shades the front of the box. Box is facing north/east. Today was #4 egg…..I added a piece of white styrofoam to the roof with a 1/2 air pocket between the roof and shield. I almost think she has started brooding today, because I saw her go in the box and not come out.
Judy-Michigan
Update…..the blues are good with the wren guard. I see both going in and out. As of today she has laid 3 eggs. I see another pair of bluebirds checking out the front yard boxes, but they don’t stay long and have not started building a nest yet. Anyone know how late in the season they lay eggs in Michigan.
Judy-Michigan
